The final piece of a high-profile border security package got moving Tuesday when a House committee heard House Bill 12 by state Rep. Oscar Longoria, which would elevate the state’s Border Prosecution Unit into an official statutory being.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
Posted in
Demographics
Houston Suburb Looks to Lawmakers for Water Fix
Residents of a small unincorporated community outside Houston hope legislation by state Rep. Armando Walle will help them get safe, reliable water service, and shine a light on parts of Texas with similar problems.
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Demographics
Roundup: Guns, Border Security Among First Floor Debates
In the Roundup: With lawmakers now more than two months into the legislative session, they are not wasting any time passing bills. The Senate has passed an open carry bill and a campus carry bill, while the House endorsed a border security measure.
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Criminal Justice
House Gives Tentative OK to Border Security Bill
Texas House members overwhelmingly gave tentative approval to a sweeping border-security measure on Wednesday that would increase the number of state troopers on the border and establish a catchall intelligence center in Hidalgo County.
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Criminal Justice
Sanctuary Cities Bill Back in Play in Senate
After taking a backseat in 2013, legislation to cut off funding to so-called sanctuary cities that don’t use local police to enforce federal immigration laws is under debate before a Senate subcommittee.
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Demographics
Texas Urged to Crack Down on Employers That Misclassify Workers
Skirting tax laws and knowingly hiring unauthorized workers are common practices in Texas, especially in the state’s construction industry. Lawmakers and workers’ rights groups are trying again to target companies that misclassify workers.
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Demographics
Cruz Heavy on Border Rhetoric, Light on Trips
As he feels out a possible presidential bid, Ted Cruz has made border security and immigration his calling cards. But Texas’ first Hispanic U.S. senator has only made three trips to border since taking office.
Posted inDemographics, Health care, Immigration
Revisit Our Five-Part Undrinkable Series
The Texas Tribune’s five-part Undrinkable series looks at border communities that lack reliable, clean water despite a multibillion-dollar effort that has spanned decades.
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Criminal Justice
Obama Administration Asks Appeals Court to Let Immigration Plan Proceed
Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to lift a temporary halt to a federal immigration program that was issued by a Brownsville-based federal judge in February.
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Undrinkable
For Two Border Towns, Clean Water Plan Crashes
From our Undrinkable series: most Rio Bravo and El Cenizo residents don’t trust the tap water despite a treatment plant intended to better the two towns’ standard of living.
